Full Disclosure Finance

By Justin

Here are magazines I have perused over the years.

My sophisticated, scientific, highly objective rating scale is as follows:
Total Green Light Special: This is a must have, no excuses for missing this one!
Worth every penny: Well said
Comes in Handy: You will find some important info, a little junk.
Rarely Useful: Mostly junk, contains minimal content worth remembering.
Dumb and Dumber: Like Billy Madison before them, everyone in the room is now dumber for having (read) it. If you rely on this stuff you better be lucky!

The Economist
Key Benefit: You can schmooze with any world leader or billionaire after 2 issues! Outlined in a concise format with loads of charts and data that provides a foundation for further research into whatever sparks your interest.
Content: Current events, politics, strong global exposure relative to other magazines.
Price: $140 CAD for 51 weekly issues
Justin’s Vote: Total Green Light Special

Maclean’s
Key Benefit: Keeps you updated on all Canadian pop culture and political news. There is usually 1 or 2 unique stories that grab your attention such as “Suddenly Teen Pregnancy is Cool” on Jan 28/08 released after the movie “Juno”. Very heavy on Canadian politics. The most interesting global issues are covered better in magazines like The Economist.
Content: Canadian politics, current events (mostly Canadian)
Price: 30 issues for $19.95 CAD
Justin’s Vote: Rarely useful

The Walrus
Key Benefit: A Canadian gem that covers issues with high quality writing and unheard of depth. The feature article usually focuses on a piece of Canadiana that hasn’t been covered in a while or isn’t the new “hot topic”.  You’re also bound to find some great articles on environmental issues and specific global interest pieces. This magazine allows you to actually converse with someone on a topic after reading a Walrus article about it. The same can’t be said for a lot of other general interest mags.
Content: Canadian, environmental, and global issues.
Price: 10 issues (1 year) can be had for $29.75
Justin’s Vote: Worth Every Penny

Money Sense
Key Benefit: Sorry, I blanked out here. If you don’t want to be bombarded by the buy mutual funds, diversify, and wait approach, don’t even touch this mag. Articles don’t even attempt to address any complicated financial or investment concepts. Instead you might find out which MP3 player is the next best thing to an I-Pod. I’m not sure where Money Sense begins and Consumer Reports ends.
Content: Insurance, RRSP’s, Mutual Funds, etc…
Price: Doesn’t matter
Justin’s Vote: Dumb and Dumber, this thing is like kryptonite for active, sophisticated investors.

Report on Business
Key Benefit: Reading this gives insight into happenings and personalities behind the best of Canadian business. You’ll get your Canadian Business 101 from ROB and enjoy every minute of it. There are always a few interviews with leaders that are not total PR jobs and provide insight into decisions and performance.
Content: Canadian business, business leaders, investing tips, market commentary.
Price: $31.85 a month to get the Globe and Mail. ROB will come each month with the subscription. Think of it as the cherry on top.
Justin’s Vote: Comes in Handy

Conde Naste Portfolio
Key Benefit: Coverage of American business issues that is anything but dry. Throw in a bit of fashion and travel and you have a magazine that is readable from cover to cover. This is the best for a long plane ride or sunny day sitting on the porch.
Content: American business, finance, some general interest
Price: 1 year (12 issues) will cost you $12 USD.
Justin’s Vote: Worth Every Penny considering the low price.

These magazines, except for The Economist, tend to be popular in the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges.  I’ll admit I don’t seek to try a ton of magazines, so if there are some better business mags out there let me know.